The Voorman Problem(2012) I would give this 3 stars out of 5
Doctor Williams is called in to examine the enigmatic Mr Voorman, a prisoner with a peculiar affliction: he believes he is a god. The Doctor must decide on the sanity of Mr Voorman - is he a faker or a lunatic? Diagnose him insane and they can ship him off to the asylum. But before making a decision, the Doctor has several questions in relation to Voorman's claims: why would a god choose to be straitjacketed in a prison, is there a way he can validate his boast and what has any of this got to do with Belgium?
Director:Mark Gill |
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Movie #880 ........................."The Voorman Problem"
Movie #880 "The Voorman Problem" is the one that didn't have subtitles, and it had THE somewhat famous actor (Martin Freeman (Bilbo) plays the doctor. But this one seemed like a tease to me, in comparison to the others. It stretches your imagination and is science fiction-like, but in the whole vast scheme of things, I won't remember it after a couple of days. It actually is a stolen idea from a Poe story, so you can somewhat guess the ending.................but if not, it's a tease, a delight for a few moments, and then you move on. Not any better from watching it.
Movie #879 ........................."Do I have to take care of everything"?
Movie #879 "Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?" is a slight entry in the best short live action films this year ---- it's very funny, and has the whole batch's funniest use of costume, but that's about it. It doesn't measure up to the others at all. Parents wake up late and have to get ready for a wedding, lose the gift, have their little kids dress themselves in "party" clothes, etc. You can guess the ending. Cute, but no cigar!
Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? (2012) I would give this 3 our of 5 stars
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Movie #878 ........................."Just Before Losing Everything" (Avant Qu De Tout Perdre)
Movie # 878 "Just Before Losing Everything" is a very tense short film from the first minute --- a little boy is on his way somewhere, and his teacher stops him and asks where he is going......he lingers under a bridge, does something possibly prophetic with a piece of wood and some stones, until his mother picks him up to take him............where? Nothing is told TO you because YOU are thrown into the action. It is very tense and well acted, and the last shot is one of those that lingers long after the movie ends. I enjoyed this one a lot, and it just might win ---- the one I liked ("helium) might be considered maudlin and manipulative (I have trouble judging that because I don't mind movies I get emotionally attached to) and this is the next best one, for sure!
Just Before Losing Everything (2013) I'd give this 4.5 stars out of 5
"Avant que de tout perdre" (original title)
Miriam, with her two children, escapes her husband, whom she fears.
Director:
Xavier LegrandWriter:
Xavier LegrandMovie #877 ........................."That Wasn't Me" ( Aque No Era Yo)
Movie #877 "That Wasn't Me" (Aque No Era Yo) was excruciating to watch --- about 3 people taken prisoner by child soldiers being trained to kill in cold blood somewhere in Africa. The characters are pretty stereotypical journalists meeting up with stereotypical child warriors. There is one kid that is more interesting than the others, and he ends up addressing a group of students throughout the film, telling them the true story and suggesting he has gotten older and moved on. The film is tough to watch, well acted, but I wanted more information on the people involved, the place they were at, and why they were there in the first place. Not for the faint of heart, either.
That Wasn't Me (2012) I give it 3.5 out of 5
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Movie #876 ........................."Helium"
Movie #876 "Helium" is nominated for best short live action film 2014, and I thought out of all 5 of them, this was the best one. From the start, the little boy and the janitor establish their characters --- the boy is dying, and the janitor had a brother who died at a young age and they both share a love of dirigibles and flying machines, so they bond right off the bat. The janitor continues to tell him stories about a possible afterlife filled with helium, as the boy continues to do worse in his health. The final shot is the best shot of the bunch of films here, and I wouldn't dare tell it here --- hopefully, you'll get to see it in the future. This is a wow short film that I hope many people get to see, and I'm so glad I got to.Helium (2014)
A young boy Alfred is dying, but through the stories about HELIUM - a magical fantasy world, told by the hospital's eccentric janitor Enzo, Alfred regain the joy and happiness of his life, and finds a safe haven away from daily life.
Director:Anders Walter |
Movie #875 ........................."Four Daughters"
Movie #875 "Four Daughters" is a very weak predecessor to the wonderful film (one of my favorites "Young at Heart"). I woke up the other day with TCM in the background and I was all of a sudden reciting all the lines of dialogue, but wrong people were saying the lines. It turned out to be this film from 1938, which was first done, and then it was recast in the 50s with Doris Day playing Ann (names were changed in the second cast), Gig Young playing Felix (the charmer), Ethel Barrymore playing the aunt (outstanding!) and the remarkable Frank Sinatra playing Mickey (Barney Sloane in the remake). If you think Sinatra couldn't act, you are wrong and you need to see this movie and the one he won the academy award for (From Here to Eternity), and I think you would do a turnaround in your attitude. Anyway, I have always liked "Young at Heart" because of the love story between Sinatra and Day -------well, that was ruined here because of a number of things they changed. The biggest thing this film lacked was motivation of movement from one scene to the next ---- conflict, and deeper characterization. So, bottom line, if you think this story is intriguing, in my opinion I'd say don't bother with this one, and move to the better remake entitled "Young at Heart" --- I think you'll enjoy it so much more! Not even to mention the singing in the remake, esp. "One for the road" --- it kills me every time I hear it sung by the one and only Frank Sinatra!
Adam Lemp, the Dean of the Briarwood Music Foundation, has passed on his love of music to his four early adult daughters - Thea, Emma, Kay and Ann - who live with him and his sister, the girls' Aunt Etta, in the long time family home. Of the four, Kay has the greatest promise as a musical performer, specifically as a singer. Theirs is a loving family, however much the girls exasperate their father with their love of popular music, since he loves only the classics, most specifically Beethoven. The girls support each other however they can, but each is an individual with her own distinct personality and wants, including the type of man each wants as a husband. Practical but deep in her heart romantic Emma has long been courted by their next door neighbor, unassuming florist Ernest Talbot, and clever Thea wants to be Mrs. Ben Crowley, he a wealthy up and coming banker with prospects. Only the youngest, the fun loving Ann, states that she doesn't want to get married. Their collective lives change with the entry into their lives of two men. The first is Adam's old friend's son, popular music composer and conductor Felix Deitz, who easily gets a job at the foundation using his natural and sincere charm which he applies to all equally. Many women misconstrue that charm for romantic interest. The second is Felix's acquaintance, musician Mickey Borden, who he hires to orchestrate his latest composition. Mickey has a chip on his shoulders about what life has dealt him, which he uses in turn as a reason for living a reckless life. The two men make each of the four daughters reexamine what she thinks she wants in life, or more precisely who she wants, which for all may be the same person.
Actors: Claude Rains plays the dad, Jeffrey Lynn places Felix, Frank McHugh plays Ben, May Robson plays the aunt, Priscilla Lane plays Ann and her sisters in real life play her sisters, but the biggest name in the cast is John Garfield who plays Mickey.
Four Daughters (1938) 90 minutes I give it 2 stars out of 5.
Adam Lemp, the Dean of the Briarwood Music Foundation, has passed on his love of music to his four early adult daughters - Thea, Emma, Kay and Ann - who live with him and his sister, the girls' Aunt Etta, in the long time family home. Of the four, Kay has the greatest promise as a musical performer, specifically as a singer. Theirs is a loving family, however much the girls exasperate their father with their love of popular music, since he loves only the classics, most specifically Beethoven. The girls support each other however they can, but each is an individual with her own distinct personality and wants, including the type of man each wants as a husband. Practical but deep in her heart romantic Emma has long been courted by their next door neighbor, unassuming florist Ernest Talbot, and clever Thea wants to be Mrs. Ben Crowley, he a wealthy up and coming banker with prospects. Only the youngest, the fun loving Ann, states that she doesn't want to get married. Their collective lives change with the entry into their lives of two men. The first is Adam's old friend's son, popular music composer and conductor Felix Deitz, who easily gets a job at the foundation using his natural and sincere charm which he applies to all equally. Many women misconstrue that charm for romantic interest. The second is Felix's acquaintance, musician Mickey Borden, who he hires to orchestrate his latest composition. Mickey has a chip on his shoulders about what life has dealt him, which he uses in turn as a reason for living a reckless life. The two men make each of the four daughters reexamine what she thinks she wants in life, or more precisely who she wants, which for all may be the same person.
Actors: Claude Rains plays the dad, Jeffrey Lynn places Felix, Frank McHugh plays Ben, May Robson plays the aunt, Priscilla Lane plays Ann and her sisters in real life play her sisters, but the biggest name in the cast is John Garfield who plays Mickey.
Movie #874 ........................."The Square"
Movie #874 "The Square" is the 4th documentary that I've seen that has been nominated for an oscar this year, and it is worth the nomination. In essence, in a peace protest against Mubarek, their leader, back in 2011, the people take to the streets. Because the Brotherhood of Muslims is more organized, they counter move and take over and win 51% of the vote in the next election. The People still do not feel represented, but they give Morsi, their new leader, some time. After two years, again they take to the streets and meet not only in the "square" but all over, because this time there are millions and millions that have come to protest....it is said to be the biggest protest in history. As a result, that regime falls, and that's where we leave the film. It makes me want to keep abreast of the situation in Egypt and cheer these people on to have a government of the people ---------a quote that lingers from this film is spouted by a mouthpiece of the revolution: We don't want a leader, we want a conscience. Wow! powerful words. This is a female director who put this raw, oftentimes violent, film together, and I applaud her courage. The whole time I was watching it, I felt what was happening in Egypt mirror our congress------ two factions who seem to want the good of the country, but are willing to go to extremes to get it done ---- where's the compromise? where's the "working together" to get it done? And this film investigate those concepts and more. A good think piece. I liked it and recommend it (but I still was emotionally moved by "Dirty Wars" more -- it's the pov in that one that is so well done!) The pov here is mostly 3 or 4 guys and one girl who are the mouthpieces for the revolutionary people --- one is an actor that was in "Kite Runner" --- and they are all powerful, persuasive speakers, for sure!
The Square2013NR I give it 4 stars out of 5
A 2014 Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Feature, this film chronicles the history-making revolution in Egypt -- starting in 2011 -- that captivated the world with scenes of courage and freedom in the face of violent opposition.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Movie #873 ........................."The Act of Killing"
Movie #873 "The Act of Killing" --- this is also nominated for best documentary of 2014, and this is a big no from me. Why was it made? Who wants to watch people giggling and laughing about how they have killed hundreds of people? They strut around with so much pride for all that they have done --- it disgusted me, and I could barely watch 30 minutes of it. So don't ask me how it ends ---- never got there --- never will. Don't need to see this piece of garbage. I don't care how different it is --- the worth of it is questioned by me. I highly do NOT recommend this. Watch! it'll probably win an Oscar. Hope not. Dirty Wars is still the best one ---- and it is still gutsier than this one!
The Act of Killing2012NR120 minutes I would give this 1 star out of 5.
The Act of Killing2012NR120 minutes I would give this 1 star out of 5.
A 2014 Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Feature, this film follows two former death squad leaders as they reenact atrocities they committed during a bloody era in Indonesia when more than a million people were slaughtered.
Movie #872 ........................."Cutie & the Boxer"
Movie #872 "Cutie & the Boxer" is nominated for an academy award for best documentary 2014 --- I'm thinking it isn't going to win it -------why? lots of reasons. One, the film is so slow, full of scenes with mindless dialogue --- did you pay the bills? do you want milk in your coffee? stuff like that, because it follows small scenes in the life of a married couple who try to do art, with the husband overshadowing his wife most of the time. The second reason is it is way too quirky for most people to like it, is my guess. We are never really convinced these people have talent --- for example, he makes these sculptures that when finished won't fit through doorways to get in to the place of installation. duh! The artist Boxer does whole wall paintings while wearing boxing gloves and placing them in paint and then throwing punches to canvas ---- a curator from the Guggenheim, in looking at his work, asks how long it takes to do the project and he says, "about a minute and a half." No kidding. Didn't like this one much ------but I suppose if you are interested in what art is, you might find this amusing. Cutie is a quirky soul, too. She draws cartoon characters of herself and her husband, and she is always naked in the pictures, she says because she is poor. The one thing I liked about this documentary is when the film shows these pictures, they are animated and it is a cute way to show you how "cutie" feels about her art, his art, and the painter himself.
Cutie and the Boxer2013R81 minutes I gave it 2 stars out of 5
Cutie and the Boxer2013R81 minutes I gave it 2 stars out of 5
A 2014 Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Feature, this film explores the work and marriage of Ushio and Noriko Shinohara, who took America's art scene by storm after leaving Japan for New York.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Movie #871 ........................."Stories We Tell"
Movie #871 "Stories We Tell" is another documentary that uses an investigative reporting technique and gives the impression that while we are watching the movie, we are finding out the big secrets that are given, in this case, about this family. The storytellers are Sarah Polley's 5 brothers and sisters, her dad and friends of her mom (who died when Sarah was only 11 years old). There's a big secret that mom that is uncovered , and it seems to affect all the family members in different ways, and they vary in the way they see the story. I liked that Sarah, though relying heavily on the interview technique in this film, tries to entertain us with film footage of her mom and family throughout. Very entertaining, but about 10 minutes too long --- needed to end a tad sooner. Other than that, I enjoyed watching the way her mom's story unfolds to the audience. Well done.
Stories We Tell2012PG-13108 minutes I'd give it 4 stars out of 5
Stories We Tell2012PG-13108 minutes I'd give it 4 stars out of 5
Using a mix of interviews and sly home movies, Sarah Polley creates an intriguing profile of her family, especially her mother, Diane, who died when Polley was 11 years old. In a family of storytellers, does the truth depend on who does the telling?
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Movie #870 ........................."The Dirty Wars"
Movie #870 "The Dirty Wars" is nominated for an academy award this year for best documentary (all the nominated documentaries can be streamed this year --- hooray!), and this may be the first one I have viewed, but I think this might be the winner ---- can't imagine any of the others to be this good. This is an amazing film ---- in substance and technique. First of all, substance. It is an investigative reporter who doesn't know the end of the story until it happens ---- as the story unfolds, it has more ohmygod moments than I have ever seen in a documentary (and I'm not a fan of documentaries --- they have to be really really good for me to like them) It is basically about how the war on terror has changed for the worse in the past couple of years, as he follows a couple of night raids that have killed innocent people in countries such as Yemen and Somalia. Technically, there are some beautiful shots, high angle, low angle, sound mixing, pretty cinematography, unbelievable interviews, nice closeups of Jeremy Scahill, footage from t.v.s' etc. Nice, nice variety, and I can't say enough good about this film. If the others nominated are even marginally like this one, bring them on!
Dirty Wars2013NR87 minutes I give this 5 out of 5 stars
A 2014 Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Feature, this film follows investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill as he explores America's controversial methods of mitigating terror threats around the globe.
Movie #869 ........................."The Magnificent Ambersons
Movie #869 "The Magnificent Ambersons" was a movie I had heard a lot about in film classes, and I haven't been able to sit down and watch the whole thing for a number of reasons, one glaring one is that I have always found it overwrought and overdone. Well, I had TCM on today, and it was showing early in the morning, so I finally decided to see most of it ---- well, enough to rate it and move on, because I didn't find it a good movie. Yes, it is following on the heels of the so much better "Citizen Kane" and yes, it was nominated for best picture, but I would then say it was over-rated. Technically, it has some mighty fine shots, but it isn't near as visually entertaining as "Kane" and as far as the story ---- it has worthwhile themes, some colorful characters, some good conflict, but it is all overplayed and not to my liking. Shortly after watching the end, which I found odd and inconclusive, I read that it was changed from Welles' ending --- which I guess would have been even worse, but would fit the tone of the movie more (and was the original ending of the book). So even the ending has an overwrought tone to it, I guess. For my money, you can skip this one.
The Magnificent Ambersons1942NR88 minutes
3 stars out of 5
The Magnificent Ambersons1942NR88 minutes
3 stars out of 5
Orson Welles's adaptation of the Booth Tarkington novel follows two upper-class Indianapolis families -- one whose glory is in decline, and another whose prosperity is only beginning -- as the families' members grapple with love and loss.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Movie #868 ........................."Fruitvale Station"
Movie #868 "Fruitvale Station" was a movie on my list all year, as soon as I heard about it coming out of Sundance. It is nominated for some spirit awards, so I wanted to make sure I got to see this. Plus, the actor Michael B. Jordan is in a new movie right now entitled "Awkward Moment," and it was intriguing to me that he would play this tense, dramatic part and then be in a movie with Zac Efron. The blurb below makes no bones about what the film is about --- most people know that if there's a film on Oscar Grant, that he will die tragically by the end of the film. What I liked about it is the realness of the film --- it follows him on his last day, and you are able to get a real sense of this guy, faults and all. It starts with real footage of the event, and ends with the film's rendition of the event, and both are equally sad and tense, and they make you want to throw something at the t.v. screen. The only thing I might have suggest is a bit more on him --- the film is really short to me, and I would have welcomed even more on him. The acting is really excellent esp. Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer. This is a must see, if you can watch the final scene.
Fruitvale Station2013R90 minutes I give this 4 out of 5 stars.
Fruitvale Station2013R90 minutes I give this 4 out of 5 stars.
This dramatic rendering of a real-life tragedy recounts the final hours of Oscar Grant, shot by San Francisco transit police on New Year's Day, 2009. In portraying the energy Oscar brought to life, the film mourns the tragic loss of a unique soul.
Movie #867 ........................"Secret Yosemite"
Movie #867 "Secret Yosemite" was boring. Not much more to say. I thought I should know something about Yosemite since we are going to visit it in a few months, but this was not interesting at all. One crazy guy was climbing the half moon through the whole 50 minutes. And then it spouted a bunch of statistics, and the photography didn't make the place look cool at all. One thing I did like is it introduced me to the major parts of Yosemite, so I got that much info out of it. Oh, and I liked watching the footage of the bears that they showed in this film. This is a don't bother.
Secret Yosemite2007NR50 minutes I give it 2 stars out of 5.
Yosemite is America's most frequently visited national park, but much of it remains untamed. Thanks to this National Geographic documentary, viewers can venture into Yosemite's spectacular wilderness to marvel at natural wonders tourists never see. The journey through nearly 700,000 acres features breathtaking waterfalls, giant sequoias, the towering El Capitan rock formation and the park's wild denizens, including black bears, bats and foxes.
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